Tropical Storm Wilma formed Monday in the northwestern Caribbean, tying the 154 year record (previously set in 1933) for the most storms in an Atlantic season at number 21.

From the 5:00 AM Discussion:
“... ONLY POSSIBLE LAND INTERACTION WITH THE NORTHEASTERN YUCATAN PRECLUDES FORECASTING WILMA TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY 120 HOURS ...”

At 5 a.m. EDT (0900Z), Wilma had top sustained winds near 40 mph, just above the threshold for tropical storms. It was centered near 17.2N Lat. x 79.7W Lon., or about 175 miles (280 km) southeast of Grand Cayman and drifting southwest near 3 mph.

A hurricane watch was issued for the Cayman Islands, meaning hurricane conditions could be felt there within 36 hours.

The official Hurricane Season doesn’t end ‘till Nov. 30. Wilma is the last on the list of 21 storm names for 2005. Any further storms will be named from the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta ...)

Hurricanes Dennis, Emily, Katrina & Rita have passed by close enough to cause concern ... but the current projection for Wilma has us in her crosshairs. Will be prepping the boat Thursday and evacuating Friday. Not sure where we will go just yet, probably Georgia. Wish us good luck!
Bob & Lynn

A brief update.
As of this morning, the computer models have moved Wilma's track through Florida, South, with it making landfall in the vicinity of the Keys. That would be good for us, far enough South that we would not have to evacuate. Having said that ... they also say that the storm is highly unpredictable at this time. It appears that the amount of time it spends over the Yucatan penninsula will determine it's course & strength. The longer it stays over the penninsula, the weaker it will be when it arrives in Florida. We are pushing back our plans by one day but will watch the developements veeeeeeery closely.
Bob & Lynn

The current 'steering influences' on Wilma are weak, hence she can be expected to meander for a while.
Wilma is expected to get her NorthWest steering from a wave over the WestCentral continent, then, as the wave moves SouthEast, it should bend Wilma further towards the NorthEast - and Florida.
Although she'll weaken today, and more significantly fwith her interaction /w the Yucatan, she can be expected to re-build over the Gulf - though I don't expect a cat. 5 (more likely 1-3) US landfall ~ THIS REMAINS A DANGEROUS STORM, THAT BEARS CLOSE WATCHING!
via con dios, all in her path ...
Gord

__________________
Gord May "If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

Hi all
Im in W. Palm Beach area & the eye passed over us with winds as much as 120mph gusts, There is much more damage than last years 2 hurricanes here. I only had lite damage but I see a lot of other folks who were not so lucky. Last year we were out of power 3 weeks, & I think were in for the same this year.this is getting old fast! Im a native here & am for the first time thinking about selling out & moving somewhere a little less hurricane prone.

Dear All,
Back from our little trip to Kissimmee ... and found no damage at all when we got back ... we are lucky indeed! Will be back with a few more comments (what worked, what didn't) after we get things back in their normal order.
Bob & Lynn